Sweetheart Lunch to Fete Childhelp Building Plan

The first Sweetheart Award Luncheon, co-sponsored by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and Childhelp USA, will be held Thursday as a preview celebration of the scheduled completion in April of the new Los Angeles Childhelp Center at 1345 El Centro Ave.

The new, 9,000-square-foot center on a 16,000-square-foot lot involved the acquisition of two 60-year-old apartment buildings united by a central lobby. Their adaptive re-use was designed by Charles Kober Associates, Los Angeles architecture firm, on a nonprofit basis.

The project was initiated in 1981, when Councilman John Ferraro, aware that U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funding was available for such projects, enlisted the help of Councilwoman Peggy Stevenson, in whose district the facility is located.

HUD funding of $1 million made the project possible. About $305,000 was spent on site acquisition, with the remainder used for construction, engineering and relocation of the tenants. Allport Construction Co. Inc., Santa Fe Springs, is the contractor, and carpeting and furniture are being provided by Kilroy Industries, Los Angeles.

Thursday’s luncheon will be held at Le BelAge Hotel, 1020 N. San Vicente Ave., West Hollywood. Details are available from Vita Cortese, treasurer of Childhelp USA, at 6463 Independence Ave., Woodland Hills.